The AIF Project

Archibald Chesterman CHALMERS

Regimental number345
Date of birth12 April 1889
Place of birthBoort, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationGrazier
AddressDevon, Deniliquin, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 8.25"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Amelia Chalmers, Acacia, Mysia, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of defective sight)
Enlistment date8 February 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name22nd Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/39/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll2nd Machine Gun Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Cross


'Work near Zonnebeke on 6 October 1917.' Second citation reads: 'In the afternoon of the 6th Oct., 1917, Lieut. CHALMERS moved his battery of 8 M.G.'s forward half a mile to a position East of ZONNEBEKE CHURCH and had all the guns ready to answer S.O.S. call in extremely short time. This he did notwithstanding the marshy nature of the ground, persistent enemy shelling and continuous casualties. On the night of 6th Oct., while guns were answering to S.O.S., this officer, though he had been burned and severely shaken and with more than 50 per cent of the personnel killed or wounded, kept his guns firing till the situation cleared. He then withdrew his battery according to orders and personally reportyed the situation to Group H.Qrs. Throughout his work was of a high standard of efficiency and his personal bearing an inspiration to his men.'(J. Paton, Brigadier-General, 2nd Australian Division)
Recommendation date: 14 October 1917

FateReturned to Australia 7 February 1919
Discharge date30 May 1919
Family/military connectionsBrother: 3620 Pte Wallace Hugh CHALMERS, 4th Light Horse, returned to Australia, 15 June 1919; Cousins (1st): 1814 Pte Arthur Gordon CHALMERS, 38th Bn, returned to Australia, 16 December 1917; 2598 Pte David Alexander CHALMERS, 7th Bn, killed in action, 20 August 1916; 1815 Pte Peter CHALMERS MM, killed in action, 13 October 1917; 1816 Pte Thomas Main CHALMERS, 38th Bn, returned to Australia, 15 April 1918; Lt Albert BORELLA VC, 26th Bn, returned to Australia, 23 February 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Record of service does not record details of service at Gallipoli. He probably fell sick, and was hospitalised on Mudros Island, returning thence to Alexandria, Egypt. Disembarked from Mudros at Alexandria, 7 January 1916; proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 24 March 1916.

Took part in raid on enemy trenches, night of 29-30 June 1916.

Promoted Lance Corporal, 28 July 1916; Temporary Corporal, 19 November 1916; Corporal 28 December 1916.

Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the field, 9 February 1917, and transferred to 2nd Division Machine Gun Company, England, 9 February 1917.

Transferred to 22nd Machine Gun Depot, Grantham, 13 February 1917; returned to France, 17 March 1917.

Promoted Lieutenant, 13 May 1917

On Command, 5th Army Rest Camp for 14 days, 28 May 1917; rejoined unit, 11 June 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, and awarded Military Cross, 8 July 1917; returned from leave, 24 November 1917.

Attached to 7th Field Artillery Brigade, 30 November-5 December 1917.

Suffered trench fever, 1917.

Detached to 2nd Army School of Instruction, 9 February-16 March 1918 (hospitalised 18-28 February 1918).

Proceeded on leave in France, 21 December 1918; rejoined unit, 30 December 1918.

Commenced returned to Australia on board HT 'Lancashire', 7 February 1919; arrived Melbourne, 24 March 1919.

Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsName given on Embarkation Roll as Archibald CHALMERS.
Date of death23 May 1970
Age at death81
Place of burialDeniliquin Cemetery, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, CHALMERS Archibald Chesterman

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